Prone to Panic Attacks? Here Is One Possible Cure

How Keeping Handy An Inventory Of Positive Thoughts Might Help

People prone to panic attacks quickly become adept at recognizing the signs of an attack-onset. They just know that 'it' is about to happen. This is even before the physical symptoms begin to manifest.



If the underlying causes don't stem from purely biological reasons (hypoglycemia or Labyrinthitis, for example), then even when the mind is on its way towards embracing the attack, it is still quite possible to reverse the process.



The solution is to train the mind to shift towards positive, self-affirming thoughts in those crucial moments. Give about five to ten seconds for the positive thoughts to trigger the right chemicals in the brain that can counteract the panic-attack threat. And then feel the exhilarated relief of the chemicals washing through the brain. Feel the welling attack subside from your body.


Now the problem in this cognitive therapy is this: In those crucial moments, when there is a feeling like slipping in an abyss, and there is no rope to hold on or no scaffold for support, the mind just is not able to latch on to any "random" positive thought. In such moments, there is no point in just hoping that some positive thought will amble its way to help. It is, therefore, important to have handy an inventory of positive thoughts that can be summoned from memory into the conscious mind.



And how does one build and use this inventory? It is a two-step process.

The first step is to actually build the inventory. There are several ways:

1. Go through the storehouse of memories accumulating since birth. Discard all the negative moments and pick up those associated with joy. They need not be the life-changing or the profound ones. Anything that brought happiness or laughter or smile. May be a friend played a prank that even now draws a chuckle. Or a good deed that was performed on the spur of the moment - like helping an old woman cross the road. Anything that has a feeling of goodness about it. Prepare a list of such moments.


2. Look at the present circumstances and take a bird's eye view of one's situations. Discard all that is worrying, anxious, and causing tension. I know it is kinda difficult, but look at the bright side of things. Give a positive spin to each and every circumstance. Give the self training to impart a positive spin to each and every circumstance. Not cynically or self-deprecatingly or self-degradingly, but in a positive manner. Try and pick out all that is good in every situation. Prepare a list of the positive perceptions.


3. Consciously go through one's assets and one's skills. The assets could be anything ranging from one's good looks to one's bank balance to one's beautiful relationships. And skills could be anything ranging from the dexterous way the meat patty is flipped on the grill, to the graceful style with which the layback spin is performed in the ice rink. Anything that generates a "feel-good" about oneself. Prepare a list of these assets and skills.



So this list becomes the inventory. Save it in a notepad, or write it in a piece of paper and always have this inventory within reach.

The second and final step is to imbibe this inventory in the mind. Whenever possible, and whenever there is time, simply open this paper and go through it. On every point of this list, pause, and recall the emotion you had when you were jotting down that point. No need to hurry.


Alternatively, feed this list into some visual subliminal self-dev softwares available on the internet. And get the software to auto-load whenever the system boots. These softwares keep throwing the points at the screen subliminally and unobtrusively, while the mind is busy working.



The training that you have to now give your mind is: at the slightest inkling of an attack-onset -- shift the thoughts towards the contents of this list. The first few seconds will feel like it is not helping. That is because in those few seconds the new thoughts are just beginning to get their hold over the mind (and through the mind, over the brain). In those few seconds, a new set of chemicals begin to ooze out from wherever they are, and start neutralizing the onset of the panic attack. Having faith in this technique during those crucial moments definitely helps.


For those of you who are prone to panic attacks: try this technique, and I would love to know how you fare.